MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 81, 22 August 1912, Page 5

MYSTERIOUS DEATH.

AN OPEN VERDICT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Nelson, Last Nig"'it. At the inquest on Robert Bnssenden, stoker and -petty officer of the Royal Nary, and lately attached to the Terra Nova survey party. Lieutenant Fannell, officer in charge, said that deceased was 34 years of age, with a wife and two children in England. Deceased had never been reported for intemperance, and was perfectly sober when he saw him last at U p.m. on Saturday, and 'he was reported as missing to witness on Sunday afternoon. On a search being made, the body was found at the foot of the pier the following morning. lie was lying upwards, with his arms stretched out. The only way he could account for the deceased not being able to save himself was that he was stunned before (entering the wa'er. The construction of the wharf was, such that deceased should have been able to save himself, even if he could not swim, as it was so easy to get out. The limbs presented no appearance of a struggle having taken place in the water. The circumstances would not suggest simple drowning by a man who fell into the water in a conscious condition. A lot of drinking was going on among people about the wharf on Saturday, His men had been warned not to take part in these carousals. Deceased's whole character was good. He was one of the best men they had. Alex. Stewart, accommodation house keep at French Pass, gave evidence that a good deal of drinking was going on on Saturday. Drinking bouts had been pretty common lately among the fishermen, and there was some quarrelling 011 Saturday. Several other witnesses testified to drinking on Saturday.

The coroner found that the deceased was drowned while unconscious from a fall or blow, hut there was no evidence to .show how he was injured and how lie trot into the water, deceased himself being perfectly sober.